Adjustable foot support device for exercising machines



June 9, 1953 w. BROCKMAN 2,641,249 ADJUSTABLE FOOT SUPPORT DEVICE FOREXERCISING MACHINES Filed Jan. 17, 1951 Patented June 9, 1953 ADJUSTABLEFOOT SUPPORT DEVICE FOR EXERCISING MACHINES Emory W. Brockman,Hartsville, Pa., assignor to Healthomatic Corporation, Bala-Cynwyd,Pa.,- a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 17, 1951,Serial No. 206,450

12 Claims. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in exercisingmachines, and more particularly to exercising machines of the ty e andconstruction havin a seat and rotational foot support devices, forexample, as disclosed in copending application for Exercising Machine,now Patent No. 2,565,348, issued August 21, 1951.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel footsupport device for the pedals of exercising machines of the typedescribed which are selectively adjustable to variously position thefoot of the user of such machine in predetermined fore and aft relationwith respect to the rotational axis of the pedals so that differentmuscles in the foot and heel of the user may be exercised to varyingdegrees as desired or required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot support device forexercising machines of the stated type which includes means forsupporting the lower leg of the user in an upright position againstlateral displacement-such means being useful in the treatment of personslacking in control of the muscles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foot support devicefor the pedals of exercising machines having the foregoing features andcharacteristics which is of relatively simplified construction andhighly eflicient and effective in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features anddetails of the construction and use thereof are hereinafter fully setforth and described with reference to the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an exercising machine of the statedtype embodying a foot support device made in accordance with the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in pershowing other details ofthe construction and arrangement of parts of the foot support device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a foot support devicemade in accordance with the present invention is shown in conjuncr tionwith an exercising machine of the construction described in Patent No.2,565,348, aforesaid. Such a machine embodies a base structure ID. a

relatively fixed seat I2, a handle member l3 which is mounted foroscillatory movement toward and away from the seat 12, and a drivenshaft M which projects laterally outward from each side of the machineand has fixed thereon the shank of a pedal or support IS, the latterbeing adjustably connected to the shank I5 by a sliding connection whichmay be secured in adjusted position, for example, by wing nut 11.

A foot support device made in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a block for body member which is fixedly secured in positionfiat upon the pedal or support l6, for example, by means of screws 2 I.Extendin through the body member 20 in a direction longitudinally of theexercising machine and in the plane of rotational movement of the pedall6 are pairs of passages 22 and 23, respectively, with the openings ofeach pair arranged alternately with respect to the other pair, forexample, in the relation shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

Mounted for sliding movement longitudinally within the first pair ofpassages 22 are the spaced parallel rod elements 3| of a toe supportsection tion 25 which is fixedly mounted or secured in any appropriatemanner to the said rod elements 24. The outermost rod element 24 isprovided with an aligned series of notches 26 extending longitudinallythereof and facing laterally outward in position for engagement by a pin21. The pin 21 extends laterally inward of the body member 20 through'asuitable opening therein and, acting on the outer end of said pin is aleafspringo'r the like 28 fixed to the body member 20 and operablenormally to urge the pin 21 into one of thenotches 2-6 in the rodelement 24 to thereby predeterminedly position the heel supportsection'25 with respect to the body member 20.

Mounted for sliding movement longitudinally with the second pair ofpassages 30 are the spaced parallel rod elements 3| of a toe supportselection 32 which is fixedly mounted or securedin any appropriatemanner to the rod elements 3| I The outermost element 3! is providedwith an'aligned series of notches 33 extending longitudinally thereofandfacing laterally outward in position for engagement by a pin 34. The pin34 extends laterally inward of the body member 20 through a suitableopening therein and acting on its outer end is a leafspring or the like35 fixed to the body member 20 and operable normally to urge the pin 34into engagement with one of the notches 33 to thereby predeterminedlyposition the toe support section 32 with respect to the body member tionon the said toe section 32.

By the construction described, it will be apparent that the heel and toesupport sections '25 and 32 of the attachment may be'sel'ectivelypositioned with respect to each other and to the attachment body member20 tomeet different requirements. pressed pins 21 and 34 and slidingtherodelements 24 and 3! relative to each other and to the body portion20 the heel and. toe sections 25 and 32 may be selectively spacedrelative to each other as required and the relative fore-and aftpositions of these sections 25 and 32 in any given spaced relationshipwith rcspectto theattachment' body portion 23 may be provided.

In this manner the heel section 25 may be po sitioned adjacent orrelatively close to the body portion 20 with the toe section 32relatively spaced forwardly thereof sothat maximum exerelse is affordedthe muscles in the heel and adjacent portions of the foot and leg of theuser.

Conversely, the toe section 32 may be positioned adjacent or close tothe attachment body portion 2!] and the heel section 25 thereof spaced-S'ubstantially rearwardly' of said portion 26 so that in the operationof the device the muscles in the forep'art of the foot are affordedmaximum exercise.

In the treatment of paralytics and other persons having no control ofthe muscles in their legs it is necessary tosupport the leg at'a pointjust below the knee in order to retain the persons leg in proper uprightposition.

of the heel section 25 of the device a bracket 50. This bracket 59rotationally receives the lower horizontal end portion of a rodorstandard 52 which is adapted to-eXtend upward along thelower' leg of theperson using the machine. Ad-

justably mounted upon the upper end portion of the standard 52' isabracket 54' which carries a strap or belt 55 for attachment to the usersleg at a point just below the knee. The lower end portion -5I of thestandard 58- is provided wit-hacross-head portion 56 through the onposite' outer ends of which are threaded screws 5'! which may beadjusted to engage against the underside of the heel section 25. Byvirtue of this construction and by proper adjustment of the screws 51the support or standard. 52 may be afforded limited pivotal movementbetween predetermined fixed limits asdesired or the said.

standard 52 may be fixedly anchored with respect to the heel section 25;

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit theinvention to such disclosure, and changes and modifications may be madeherein .and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for exercising machineshaving a seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attach-- Thus byreleasing the spring- For this purpose there may be secured to theunderside '4 ment to each pedal support, heel and toe support sectionseach slidably mounted in the body member for adjustable positioning withrespect to each other and said body member, and latch means to securesaid heel and toe sections in the respective positions to whichadjusted.

2. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support, heel and toe support sections each slidably mounted inthe body memher for adjustable positioning with respect to each otherand said body member, latch means to secure said heel and toe sectionsin the respective positions to which adjusted, an upwardly extending legsupport pivotally carried by the heel section. and arranged to lieoutwardly ad jacent the lower leg portion of a person on the machine,and means on said support to anchor the users leg thereto.

3. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support, heel and toe support sections each slidably mounted inthe body member for adjustable positioning with respect to each otherand said body member, latch means to secure said heel and toe sectionsin the respective positions to which adjusted, an upwardly extending legsupport pivotally carried by the heel section and arranged to lieoutwardly adjacent the lower leg portion of a person on-the machine,means on said support to anchor the users leg thereto, and means toselectively and predeterminedly limit pivotal movement of the legsupport relative to the heel section.

4. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat androtationallydriven pedal supports, comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support, heel and toe support sections each having a portionslidably mounted in the body member for adjustably positioning said heeland toe sections with respect to each other and the body member, andlatch means carried by the body member operable to secure said heel andtoe sections in the respective positions to which adjusted.

5. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support, heel and toe support sections slidably mounted in thebody member for adjustable positioning with respect to each other andthe body member, and spring urged latch means in the body memberoperable to engage and secure said heel and toe sections in therespective positionsto which adjusted.

6. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support having openings in said body-member, a heel supportsection having projecting elements slidably mounted in certain of saidopenings in the body member for adjustably positioning the heel sectionwith respect thereto, a toe support section having projecting elementsslidably mounted in others or said openingsin the body member foradjustably positioning the toe section with respect thereto, latch meansin said body member positioned. to engage one of the heel and toeprojecting elements and thereby retain the heel and toe sections inselected positions of adjustment with respect to each other and the bodymember.

7. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support having openings in said body member, a heel supportsection having projecting elements slidably mounted in certain of saidopenings in the body member for adjustably positioning the heel sectionwith respect thereto, a toe support section having projecting elementsslidably mounted in others of said openings in the body member foradjustably positioning the toe section with respect thereto, latch meansin said body member positioned to engage one of the heel and toeprojecting elements and thereby retain the heel and toe sections inselected positions of adjustment with respect to each other and th bodymember, an upwardly extending leg support pivotally carried by the heelsection and arranged to lie outwardly adjacent the lower leg portion ofa person on the machine, and means on said support to anchor the usersleg thereto.

8. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat for rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support having pairs of spaced parallel openings in said bodymember, a heel support section having projecting elements slidablymounted in certain of said openings in the body member for adjustablypositioning the heel section with respect thereto, a toe support sectionhaving projecting elements slidably mounted in others of said openingsin the body member for adjustably positioning the toe section withrespect thereto, latch means in said body member positioned to engageone of the heel and toe projecting elements, and resilient means actingon said latch operable normally to urge the same into engagement withsaid elements to thereby retain the heel and toe sections in selectedposi tions of adjustment with respect to each other and the body member.

9. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support having pairs of spaced parallel openings in said bodymember, a heel support section having projectin elements slidablymounted in certain of said openings in the body member for adjustablypositioning the heel section with respect thereto, a toe support sectionhaving projecting elements slidably mounted in others of said openingsin the body member for adjustably positioning the toe section withrespect thereto, at least one of the projecting elements of both theheel and toe sections having recesses formed therein, and latch means insaid body member positioned to engage one of the slots in said one ofthe heel and toe projecting elements to thereby retain the heel and toesec tions in selected positions of adjustment with respect to each otherand the body member.

10. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat and rotationallydriven .pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to eachpedal support having pairs of spaced parallel openings in said bodymember, a heel support section having projecting elements slidablymounted in certain of said openings in the body member for adjustablypositioning the heel section with respect thereto, a toe support sectionhaving projecting elements slidably mounted in others of said openingsin the body member for adjustably positioning the toe section withrespect thereto, at least one of the projecting elements of both theheel and toe sections having recesses formed therein, latch meanspositioned to engage one of the slots in said one of the heel and toeprojecting elements, and resilient means acting on said latch meansoperable normally to urge said latch means into engagement with saidslots to thereby retain the heel and toe sections in selected positionsof adjustment with respect to each other and the body member.

11. An attachment for exercising machines havinga seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attach-- ment toeach pedal support having pairs of spaced parallel openings in said bodymember, a heel support section having projecting elements slidablymounted in certain of said openings in the body member for adjustablypositioning the heel section with respect thereto, a toe support sectionhaving projecting elements slidably mounted in others of said openingsin the body member for adjustably positioning the toe section withrespect thereto, at least one of the projecting elements of both theheel and toe sections having recesses formed therein, latch meanspositioned to engage one of the slots in said one of the heel and toeprojecting lements, resilient means acting on said latch means operablenormally to urge said latch means into engagement with said slots tothereby retain the heel and toe sections in selected positions ofadjustment with respect to each other and the body member, an upwardlyextending leg support pivotally carried by the heel section and arrangedto lie outwardly adjacent the lower leg portion of a person on themachine, and means on said support to anchor the users leg thereto.

12. An attachment for exercising machines having a seat and rotationallydriven pedal supports; comprising a body member for attachment to each.pedal support having pairs of spaced parallel openings in said bodymember, a heel support section having projecting elements slidablymounted in certain of said openings in the body member for adjustablypositioning the heel section with respect thereto, a toe support sectionhaving projecting elements slidably mounted in others of said openingsin the body member for adjustably positioning the toe section withrespect thereto, at least one of the projecting elements of both theheel and toe sections having recesses formed therein, latch meanspositioned to engage one of the slots in said one of the heel and toeprojecting elements, resilient means acting on said latch means operablenormally to urge said latch means into engagement with said slots tothereby retain the heel and toe sections in selected positions ofadjustment with respect to each other and the body member, an upwardlyextending leg support pivotally carried by the heel section and arrangedto lie outwardly adjacent the lower leg portion of a person on themachine, means on said support to anchor the users leg thereto, andmeans to selectively and predeterminedly limit pivotal movement of theleg support relative to the heel section.

EMORY W. BROCKMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,041,693 Boltz May 26, 1936 2,565,348 Brockman Aug. 21, 1951

